Those looking out beyond the remaining tower will be able to take in gorgeous views of Loch Ness and beyond. Remarkably, some of its internal structure is still maintained. However, the south wall collapsed during a great storm in 1715.
Originally, the tower was five storeys tall, with all the storeys still visible. In 1332, in the dark days following Robert I’s death, Urquhart was the only Highland castle to hold out against the English.ĭid you know that Urquhart Castle is one of the largest of its kind in Scotland? Built in the mid to 16th century, its large tower was a replacement for the previous tower. As a consequence, the castle came under the control of Robert the Bruce after he became King of Scots in 1306. Later, in the 1300s, Urquhart featured prominently in the Scots’ struggle for independence. The Lords of the Isles then seized the castle on various occasions in the later Middle Ages. Moreover, it sits on top of ruins of which many famous names have set foot. Situated on a headland with breathtaking views of Loch Ness, this iconic castle in Scotland has a fascinating, rich history. One of the most visited castles in Scotland With its triangular promontory, thick stone walls and dramatic tower, Urquhart Castle is a must when it comes to discovering things to do in Inverness. Boasting half a million visitors each year, the castle is one of the most popular in Scotland. More details about the castle are available here.The ruins of Urquhart Castle will captivate visitors with its intriguing history. We travelled to Urquhart castle with Jacobite cruises. Urquhart castle is one of Scotland’s most visited castles and is a must-see if you are anywhere near Loch Ness. The owner of the castle was allocated £2000 in compensation by Parliament but this was never paid. This involved blowing up the gate house and important walls so that the castle was uninhabitable. To prevent the castle becoming a Jacobite stronghold Urquhart was ‘damnified’ by Royalist troops in 1692. Here you can watch a short film that explains the history of the castle and several other finds from the castle, including a water ewer with a musket shot hole and samples of horn cups and metalwork. There is also a contemporary visitors’ centre with a cafe that sells a hot chocolate that works wonders against the Scottish ‘springtime’ weather. These would have been used as ammunition for the trebuchet to attack the castle. Areas of the castle that have been identified include the gatehouse, chapel, kitchen, great hall and constable’s lodging. To the west of the castle is a reconstruction of a trebuchet and inside the visitors’ centre there are several stone balls that have been found in the vicinity. Even given the thick walls it must have been a very cold place to live. The tower is a later 16th century addition which gives great views up and down the Glen and the Loch from the top. The buildings were laid out next to the Loch, with a 30 metre ditch and drawbridge protecting the western flank. In the 15th and 16th century it was raided frequently by the MacDonalds, the Lords of the Isles. The castle changed hands between the English and Scots several times following its capture by Edward I in 1296 until the end of the Wars of Scottish Independence in 1357. The current ruins date from the 13th to 16th centuries, though there was an early settlement in the same location. This is a place with a lot of history, much of it violent. The informative signs make it easy to imagine how things would have appeared centuries ago. There is a small landing jetty and scheduled boats from Jacobite cruises bring visitors during the day. Urquhart was one of Scotland’s biggest castles and despite being ruined there is still a lot of the castle left to examine. You can visit by car or bus, but we arrived by boat in the manner that visitors would always have arrived in the past. Urquhart Castle is situated on Strone Point on the west shores of Loch Ness, a mile east of the village of Drumnadrochit.
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